Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at
6:20 pm
Runner’s Question: I am currently running a minimum of 7 miles a day. My dad told me I should be running barefoot strides after every workout. I tried that on the football field, only 4 strides. When I was done, I noticed that my calves and hips felt amazing. Does a little bit of barefoot running actually prevent injury?
My 2 cents: Good question! I’ve been doing my share of barefoot running lately… As in literally running without any type of footwear. I’ve only worked up to roughly 3 miles, as it tends to get harsh on your feet, especially when running through the terrain that I’ve been (neighborhoods… streets and sidewalks). I only do it during the day when so I can concentrate on my foot placement and be sure that I’m not stepping on any glass. Anyway, not gonna go off on a long rant here, but I would definitely recommend adding barefoot running to your training/cardio regimen. Just be sure to start slow and ease your way into it. Only do like 3-4 blocks your first day – Your calves are going to be feeling it soon after!
Add your two cents! Answer this question (or check out the other answers) in the comments section below.
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 at
7:33 pm
Just a quick update, for those of you wondering why I seemingly haven’t been running at all lately.
The Nike+ run updates in the right sidebar come from the Nike+ iPod chip. This chip is in my sneakers. I haven’t been running in sneakers lately. I’ve actually been running barefoot. More to come on barefoot running later, but until I figure out a way to use the Nike+ run tracker without wearing shoes (or perhaps with a pair of Vibram Five Fingers), I’m not sure how I’ll be keeping that thing updated.
But yeah, general lack of updates due to what I’d say is a major shift in my running regimen. Slowly but surely working my way into the whole running without shoes thing… So far, so good. Will post a more detailed update all about this when I have some more time.
Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at
4:46 pm
As you (most likely) already know, running is a great way to keep fit and can be a lot of fun, too. It is very important to make sure you have the correct equipment before you start and one of the most important investments is a good pair of running shoes. They can improve your running gait and prevent injuries. There are thousands of different running shoes to choose from and most of the big sports manufacturers invest money into the science and technology of running shoes.
Running Shoe Components
A running shoe comprises an outsole, a midsole, an upper, a heel counter and a post or footbridge. Apart from that, running shoes vary enormously in design and color. A running shoe has to be flexible and durable, control motion and absorb shock. It is best to buy your shoes from a specialist running shop, or at least a sports shop, so you can get good advice from the sales staff. Try on shoes in the afternoon, when your feet are slightly larger.
Each person has slightly different feet, so a great shoe for someone else might not necessarily be the best one for you. The shape of your feet, your weight, any foot problems, your running style and running surfaces (tarmac, sand, treadmill etc) and various other factors can affect which running shoe is going to suit you and your lifestyle the best.
Types of Running Shoes
You can divide your feet into one of three basic types – normal, flat or high arched. Have a look at your wet footprint on the bathmat when you get out of the bath. If you see a full imprint, this means you are flat footed. If there is an arch cutaway, your foot is normal. If there is a very narrow band or no band between the front and back of the foot, you have high arches. Foot type affects which sort of running shoes will be better for you. The normal foot tends to be the most biomechanically efficient and you will need shoes with moderate motion control. If you have high arches, avoid stability or motion control shoes, as these will limit foot mobility. If your feet are flat, high stability or motion control shoes with firm midsoles will reduce the amount your foot naturally rolls in and be more comfortable and better for you. Avoid highly curved or cushioned shoes if your feet are flat, as they will restrict stability.
When trying on running shoes, make sure they feel good as soon as you put them on. The average pair of running shoes should be able to run 1000 km so comfort is a must!
Friday, March 13th, 2009 at
2:55 pm
I was messing around on Twitter earlier today, when I came across the Twiike Leaderboard. I’ve posted about Twiike before – It allows you to automatically add your Nike+ runs to Twitter. Anyway, the Twiike service put together a list of the top 100 runners (out of those using the service, obviously). When I saw that, I told myself that I needed to be on that list – I was just assuming I wasn’t on there. As I scrolled down, I saw my Twitter name (@Runlikeh3ll) and I’m #73 on the list. Pretty cool! Now I’m determined to move up that list. I’ve been doing nothing but interval runs lately, so my runs are short but fast. Anyway, we’ll see how that goes.
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 at
1:49 pm
I personally don’t own an iPhone (I don’t want to leave Verizon) but I know several people that have them and swear by them. And I can definitely see the appeal – The “homebrew” scene seems to be thriving, and there are applications available for almost everything you can imagine. RNCentral.com has put together a list of 50 Awesome iPhone Apps for Runners. There seem to be several apps on the list that all do more or less the exact same thing, but regardless there’s some cool stuff on there – Check it out!
For now though, I’m happy with my iPod Nano and Nike+ chip. Just out of curiosity, do any of you use Nike+ as well?
Sunday, March 8th, 2009 at
6:25 am
Are you in need of some good exercise, but you don’t want to miss your favorite shows by going to the gym? If that is the case, you may be interested in purchasing a treadmill. With your own treadmill, you can exercise and watch TV at the same time! If you aren’t sure about which treadmill to get, let this be your guide to treadmill reviews.
There are many places to go to learn about treadmill reviews. Most of these treadmill reviews go over several aspects. Some treadmill reviews go over the ease of use and functionality of the treadmill. Other treadmill reviews go over the price of the treadmills. Other treadmill reviews just go over comparing the different brands of treadmills.
We will go over the top 3 treadmill that were listed in the treadmill reviews. These treadmills are listed as the “best buys”. The first treadmill is in the below $1000 category. It is the Smooth 5.15. This treadmill has an excellent 2.5 HP motor which is almost never found in treadmills priced this low. It also comes with a 10 year warranty which is also never found in treadmills priced this low.
The second treadmill is in the best mid priced category. This is the Sole F83 priced at $1799.99. This treadmill has a nice 3.0 HP ultra torque motor. It also has several extended warranties. Lastly, this is a folding treadmill with several safety features that are not available with most folding treadmills. It is said to be more stable than most non folding treadmills.
And lastly we have the best premium treadmill. This treadmill is the Landice L7 Pro Sports trainer. This treadmill is priced at $3095.00(!) It has a 3.0 HP Baldor motor, which many treadmill enthusiasts know is one of the best motors to have. This treadmill is made with aircraft quality aluminum and hardware. It can support a person up to 500 pounds! It also comes with a lifetime warranty, which suffices to say, no other treadmill can beat.
Now that you know a little more about treadmills, it is time you got out there and picked one out! You will be glad you did.
I should note that I don’t own a treadmill myself, but I have looked into it, and plan on buying one in the near future.
